• First woman to surpass 200 million RIAA single certifications
• Ranks third globally among all-time digital certification leaders

Rihanna has achieved a major milestone in the music industry, becoming the first woman to exceed 200 million RIAA single certifications as of Wednesday, April 15, despite not releasing a new album in nearly a decade.

RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) certifications are awarded based on verified sales and streaming performance of songs and albums in the United States, reflecting an artist’s commercial reach across digital platforms.

According to the all-time ranking, Rihanna stands third overall with 200.5 million certified units, placing her among the most commercially successful artists in music history.

Drake leads the list with 277.5 million units, followed by Morgan Wallen in second place with 215 million.

Her last studio album, ANTI, was released in 2016. Since then, she has released limited projects, including “Lift Me Up” for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) and “Friends of Mine” for Smurfs (2025).

Rihanna has repeatedly discussed her upcoming album over the years, telling a magazinein 2025 that she feels “very positive” about the project, while stressing it will not follow a conventional format.

She said the album will not be tied to a single genre, explaining that she rejected several directions as they did not reflect her artistic evolution, adding that she wants to deliver something “worth the wait” rather than a “mediocre” release.

She also noted that the project will differ from public expectations and will not necessarily be designed for commercial radio play.

In a separate incident in March, Rihanna made headlines after a shooting targeted her Beverly Hills home. No injuries were reported, but the case remains under investigation and is believed to have had a significant emotional impact on the singer.